FDA Approves New Morning Sickness Drug

Miserable moms-to-be, rejoice! The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a drug for morning sickness, the first drug of its kind in more than half a century.

The Chicago Tribune reported that the new drug, called Diclegis, is actually a reincarnation of an older product called Bendectin that was approved by the FDA back in 1956. Bendectin was removed from the market in 1983 after a handful of mothers filed lawsuits claiming their babies had been harmed by it. The FDA investigated and debunked these claims. Bendectin wasn't withdrawn from the market because it caused harm, but only because the drug's manufacturer couldn't afford legal costs to defend itself in court.

Once again, the FDA gives the green light to this morning sickness drug. Although it is produced by a different company and has a different name, the formulation is the same — a mixture of doxylamine succinate and pyroxidine hydrochloride. The chemical names sound scary, but they are simply an antihistamine and Vitamin B6, respectively. That's a combination that has been suggested to suffering pregnant women for the past nine years, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. It will now be available by prescription in a single pill.

The FDA is certainly giving this drug a vote of confidence. Diclegis is rated Category A, which means that the results of controlled studies do not show an increased risk to the unborn baby. It's the drug category considered safest for pregnant women. Even Tylenol is the next step down in Category B.

So, should every morning sick mama run out and get a prescription of Diclegis? Not necessarily. Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy can often be managed by snacking on bland food throughout the day, drinking ginger ale, or using acupressure. For women whose symptoms don't respond to simple lifestyle measures, this drug may be a good alternative.

I've been lucky to escape horrible sickness during all four of my pregnancies. My episodes were always mild and brief. But I have several friends and family members who suffer horribly during pregnancy. My poor sister-in-law usually endures pregnancy sickness off and on during the entire nine months of gestation.

Even so, my suffering friends are hesitant to take any drugs to ease their symptoms. It's understandable. You never know when that pill you pop is going to cause trouble in a developing baby. But in this case, when a drug is well studied, has been used for years with no problems, and may bring significant relief, it's certainly something to consider. I bet lots of pregnant mothers would enjoy a break from the green haze of nausea. Not to mention meals experienced in reverse.

Did you suffer from nausea or vomiting during pregnancy? Ever take medication for it? Share experiences below.

More Blogs

Nicole Stevens

Nicole Stevens is a 30-something mom of four adorable kids. Her passions include spending time with her babies and doing research in the laboratory. She also enjoys crafts, photography, crochet, reading, and long walks. Her work has appeared elsewhere on WhattoExpect.com.

About Word of Mom

WhatToExpect.com supports Word of Mom as a platform dedicated to honest, engaged, informed, intelligent, and open conversation about pregnancy and parenting. However, the opinions expressed in this section are those of individual parents/writers and do not reflect the views of Heidi Murkoff or the What to Expect brand.

The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, or in place of therapy or medical care. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here